Bus routes 55 and 15 have been confirmed as the latest to be converted to Boris Johnson’s flagship New Routemaster buses.
When the buses were first unveiled Mr Johnson hailed their open rear door design which he said harked back to the capital’s iconic original Routemaster.
However safety concerns meant Transport for London was forced to cover operators’ costs of employing a second crew member to supervise use of the rear platform during movement, adding significantly to each route’s costs.
Last year the TfL board were told that future routes would run “entirely” in One Person Operated (OPO) mode, meaning the rear platform will be closed while the bus is running and only open when the bus pulls up at a stop.
The move removes the need for a second crew member, helping reduce TfL’s costs.
TfL says the two routes, both of which are operated by Stagecoach, will undergo a “phased conversion” to the new vehicles.
London Assembly Member Darren Johnson said: “The Mayor has paid a real premium for hop-on, hop-off buses, but has had to cut the extra money it cost to put the so called ‘conductors’ on them. Half of the routes with these new Routemasters don’t open the doors between stops and the other half only do it for part of the day.
“The design of the bus looks nice on the outside, but there are design problems on the inside such as no windows, a cramped upstairs and problems for wheelchairs access. It is a badly thought through and expensive vanity project.”
Tom Ball says
This is another example of the underlying failure of the bus to be ‘fit for purpose’. I very much regret that any Company is taking it on. There is something very wrong at the heart of TfL’s Board and Management. From the outset there were and continue to be very obvious failures in the so called “design”.
Londoners are being saddled with costs for an ignoble failure. I challenge and invite Boris Johnson and any TFL Board member to ride with me on route 24 from Pimlico to Trafalgar Square. It is the most uncomfortable and inadequate bus of any in London’s circuits that I have used. The closing of the rear door makes the whole accessibilty and circulation retrograde.
My detailed critique of the bus sent to TfL and members of the Assembly early last year has been barely answered, and generally ignored. I have requested to know what changes were being made in the latest 200 production without any response from TFL or Assembly. Mayor Johnson is entirely accountable for this gross imposition.
Tom Ball 26.1.15
Tom Ball says
This is another example of the underlying failure of the bus to be fit for purpose. I very much regret that any Company is taking it on.there is something very wrong at the heart of TfL’s Board and Management. Fromm the outset there were and continue to be very obvious failures in the so called “design”. Londoners are being saddled with costs for an ignoble failure. I challenge and invite Boris Johnson and any TfL Board member to ride with me on route 24 from Pimlico to Trafalgar Square. It is the most uncomfortable and inadequate bus of any in London’s circuits I have used. The closing of the rear door makes the whole accessibility retrograde. My detailed critique of the bus sent to TfL and members of the Assembly early last year has been barely answered. and generally ignored. `i have requested to know what changes were being made to the latest 200 production without any response from TfL or Assembly. Mayor Johnson is entirely accountable for this gross imposition.
JMCRAIG says
TOTALLY AGREE WITH DARREN JOHNSON .FROM THE UGLY LOOK TO THE UNTHOUGHT LAYOUT ITS A TOTAL SHAMBOLIC MESS.
paul says
i really like them, and very comfortable too, love the lighting upstairs, but keep those rear doors open its the whole point, its the USP at least in central London when the progress is slow and walking is quicker. importantly when is route 19 becoming the new routemaster, it beats those sweaty rattly excuses currently on offer, id rather walk arrghhh?
Andrew, Canterbury, UK says
I was a dyed-in-the-wool fan of efficient, comfortable and quick Bendy-Buses, and when I saw the Borismaster designs, I was horrified. But after using them a few times, I absolutely love them. Having two staircases is a boon, and the open rear door is nice (though at my age, I don’t go for suicidal leaps like I used to in the old days).
I agree their creation was a vanity project – and not cheap – but the reality is that these comfortable buses with a lovely retro ambience, don’t cost a lot more than any other bus – ordering 800 has rather brought the unit price down.
Unlike most other modern buses, Borismasters have character, a feature that I find comfortable and relaxing in Dirty Old London.
If I see one behind the bus standard bus arriving, I step back and wait 30 seconds. Love ’em!
By all means, knock Boris (not exactly hard, is it?), but don’t sneer at the best bus in decades.
joov says
i have noticed that on the new London buses such as the 38 and 55 buses, the stop button does not work sometimes. i try multiple buttons and they do not work. it happened with me today on a crowded 55 bus while i was towards the back of the bus. i missed my stop. then i tried pressing more than one stop button and non of them worked. i missed the next stop. then on the third stop, the button got pressed by someone and i got off and had to walk back in the rain.